Chapter 470 471: Suicune
Although it was highly unlikely that a Fire-type Pokémon would hide underwater...
This was still a Legendary Pokémon.
If it could do something beyond ordinary logic, that wouldn't be surprising at all.
But when the Pokémon finally emerged...
Both Lin Feng and Luo Bingxue froze.
The Ice Beam had only been meant as a test.
A rushing column of water intercepted it, shattering the beam into countless glittering ice crystals that scattered through the air, refracting brilliant rainbow colors beneath the sunlight.
The figure that had destroyed the attack landed gracefully upon the surface of the lake.
Its long, flowing white ribbons drifted elegantly behind it.
Its sleek blue-and-white body gleamed beneath the sun.
A magnificent purple mane cascaded from behind its head.
Its powerful legs stood lightly upon the water as though the lake itself were solid ground.
This wasn't Entei.
It was...
Suicune.
Lin Feng stood speechless.
Luo Bingxue was equally stunned.
Suicune's physique was nearly identical to Entei's.
Clearly...
This was another Legendary that stood on the same level.
Pokémon: Suicune
Gender: Genderless
Type: Water
Ability: Pressure
Potential: Divine
IVs: HP (31), Attack (31), Special Attack (31), Defense (31), Special Defense (31), Speed (31)
Level: 99
Moves: Gust, Leer, Mist, Water Gun, Sheer Cold, Water Pulse, Extreme Speed, Ice Fang, Mirror Coat, Calm Mind, Bite...
Suicune stepped lightly across the lake.
Without anyone noticing when it had begun...
A white mist slowly spread across the water.
The fog grew thicker and thicker, gradually swallowing the surrounding forest as though it intended to blanket the entire woodland.
"Suicune?!"
Luo Bingxue stared in disbelief.
The reports had all pointed toward Entei.
At that moment...
Everything suddenly clicked in Lin Feng's mind.
If it had truly been Entei...
He could still explain it away.
Mew had accidentally taken Entei's favorite Fire Stone, the one it had used as a bed.
It would make sense for Entei to come searching for it.
But Suicune...
Had absolutely no connection to him.
Well...
Almost none.
The only possible connection was...
The Rainbow Wing Mew had given him.
The legendary feather said to be the token Ho-Oh used when selecting the Rainbow Hero.
Which meant...
Entei hadn't been searching for its missing bed at all.
It had been evaluating him.
Testing whether he was worthy of becoming the Rainbow Hero.
"..."
"Why?"
Luo Bingxue still looked completely puzzled.
To ordinary Trainers...
Entei and Suicune were simply Legendary Pokémon.
Many had never even heard of them.
But Luo Bingxue had traveled across many regions.
She knew these legends well.
She had even encountered a Suicune herself during her travels through the Galar Region while competing in the Masters Tournament.
Granted...
That particular Suicune hadn't been especially powerful.
But still...
These were two entirely different Legendary Pokémon.
Why would they appear together?
"Su..."
Suicune continued walking gracefully across the lake.
Its eyes rested upon Lin Feng.
Then shifted toward the two Pokémon beside him.
Serperior and Gardevoir immediately entered combat stance.
Around the lakeshore...
Fresh green grass quietly sprouted from the earth.
It grew almost in response to Serperior's own will.
Such extraordinary affinity with nature...
Was far beyond ordinary Pokémon.
Then Suicune looked toward Gardevoir.
Its eyes widened slightly.
The psychic aura emanating from Gardevoir...
Was astonishingly close to its own level.
Is this really the human chosen for the next Rainbow Hero...?
These Pokémon are so powerful...
What if they actually end up defeating Lord Ho-Oh...?
Still...
After observing everything before it...
Suicune had already reached its conclusion.
The human before it had unquestionably passed its test.
"Haa..."
Finally understanding what was happening, Lin Feng let out a long breath.
If this really was the Rainbow Hero selection...
Then things became much simpler.
Suicune...
Entei...
Raikou...
They would mostly just observe him from afar.
The only one he truly needed to watch out for...
Was Marshadow.
"Should we attack?"
Luo Bingxue asked quietly.
She couldn't help being shocked by the readiness of Serperior and Gardevoir.
Back during the Vertigo Tournament...
She had already sensed how powerful Serperior was.
But now...
Its life force felt endless.
It had changed yet again in such a short time.
Still...
The situation came first.
Her attention remained fixed on Suicune.
"No, no, no."
Lin Feng hurriedly shook his head.
He didn't bother hiding the truth.
"I think..."
"It's here because of me."
"...Huh?"
Luo Bingxue blinked.
"If I'm right..."
"That should be the reason."
Lin Feng nodded helplessly.
Watching Suicune walk gracefully across the lake...
He hesitated for a moment before taking a step forward.
He wanted to explain something.
He had absolutely no intention of becoming the Rainbow Hero.
As far as he understood it...
The Rainbow Trial consisted of overcoming countless tests.
Marshadow would probably cause trouble somewhere along the way as well.
Only after completing every trial would the chosen Hero finally meet Ho-Oh and receive its blessing.
The participating Pokémon would gain tremendous improvements in both strength and potential.
But honestly...
Whether it was increasing a Pokémon's potential...
Or helping it grow stronger...
Neither was particularly difficult for him.
So why would he compete for something he didn't even need?
However...
The instant he stepped forward...
Suicune lightly tapped the water several times.
Its elegant figure blurred.
Moments later...
It had vanished completely from the lake.
At the same time...
The dense white mist slowly dispersed into the air.
"...?"
"It left?"
"...Yeah."
"It left."
"Sera..."
"Garde?"
The sudden appearance...
And equally sudden disappearance...
Left every Pokémon present staring blankly.
Lin Feng, meanwhile...
Could only sigh.
Because Suicune leaving like that...
Almost certainly meant...
It had already acknowledged him.
Which made things...
Even more troublesome.
"..."
"So..."
"What exactly just happened?"
Luo Bingxue asked.
The mist had faded.
Entei never appeared.
Instead, Suicune had arrived.
Combined with what Lin Feng had said earlier...
And the fact that Suicune's attention had remained fixed on him from beginning to end...
She knew something significant had happened.
Even if she didn't fully understand it...
She knew the legends surrounding Suicune, Entei, and Raikou.
The three Legendary Beasts...
Were said to have been resurrected by Ho-Oh after death.
Now that both Entei and Suicune had appeared...
There was a good chance Raikou would eventually appear as well.
"..."
Now it was Lin Feng's turn to feel a headache coming on.
He scratched his head before explaining.
"You know that Suicune, Raikou, and Entei are Ho-Oh's messengers, right?"
Luo Bingxue nodded.
"As Ho-Oh's messengers..."
"They search for humans worthy of becoming the Rainbow Hero."
Lin Feng briefly explained the Rainbow Hero Trial.
"So you're saying..."
"Ho-Oh chose you..."
"And wants you to participate in the Rainbow Hero Trial?"
Luo Bingxue's eyes widened.
"And if you succeed..."
"It'll greatly benefit your Pokémon?"
"Yeah."
"That's basically it."
She stared at him in confusion.
"But..."
"You don't look very happy about it."
Lin Feng sighed deeply.
"Because..."
"I don't want to go."
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